Therapeutic supporting device



March 4, 1969 M. TYNDALL 3,431,020

THERAPEUTIC SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed 001;. 24, 1966 Sheet Of 2 ATTO/Q/VEy March 4, 1969 M. TYNDALL 3,431,020

THERAPEUTIC SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 24, 1966 Sheet 2 of Li UnitedStates Patent 3,431,020 THERAPEUTIC SUPPORTING DEVICE Maurice Tyndall,5503 91st Ave., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Filed Oct. 24, 1966, Ser. No.589,068 US. Cl. 297378 Int. Cl. B60111 1/02; B601 21/10 1 Claim ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a supporting device forpersons whose lower extremities are encased in a cast.

Medical corrective measures for children suffering from a congenital hipcondition usually comprise the encasing of the waist and legs of thechild in a cast with the legs spread at an angle close to 180 in thecast. As the hip joint forms, the cast is then altered gradually toreduce the angle of the legs. Owing to the nature of this condition andthe fact that the healing process is slow, it is not uncommon for achild to wear such a cast over a period of a year or more.

For the correct formation of the hip joint, it is important that thelegs be held immovable while in the cast and it is frequently necessaryto utilize a rigid brace between the legs of the cast to ensure thisimmobility.

Since this condition is usually discovered in children when they firstbegin to walk, it becomes necessary that the child wear the cast duringits early years of life and, in many cases, when the child will requireconsiderable attention for feeding, cleanliness and other functions.

It has been found that the weight of the growing child coupled to theweight of the cast is such that it is difficult or impossible for themother to" support the child in an upright position during the feedingprocess and, since great care must be exercised in that no damagedshould occur to the cast or its supporting brace, feeding of the childor amusement of the child becomes a tremendous problem.

Since the size of the cast and the position of the childrens legs issuch that the prone or lying position appears to be best, this is theposition most frequently utilized by parents or people responsible forcare and attention to these children with the result that the child mustspend long periods in a lying position. As stated before, this generallyis during the first foramtive years of the childs life and unlessconsiderable and constant attention is paid to the childs needs andwants, severe behavoir patterns and physical problems can result fromthe child not being able to amuse itself or develop its naturalinstincts.

An object of my invention is to provide a support for a child whoselower limbs are encased in a cast to correct a congenital hip condition.

A further object is to provide a support for a child whose lower limbsare encased in a cast to correct a congenital hip condition that willsupport the child in an upright, seated position.

A further object is to provide a support that will support a child ashereinbefore stated, such device being transportable While the child issupported.

A still further object is to provide a support for a "ice child asdescribed that will support the child in an upright position withoutdamage to the cast.

A still further object is to provide a device of the type described thatmay be adjusted to conform to casts of various sizes and shapes.

A still further object is to provide a device of this nature that may beadjusted to change the position of a child supported thereon from theupright position to the prone position while still supporting the child.

My invention is designed to overcome the above and other difficultiespresent in the care and handling of children suffering from a congenitalhip condition and, in use, will provide a device on which such a childmay be supported in an upright seated position. My device istransportable so that the child may me moved with ease when required,may be positioned close to a table or other device so that the child mayamuse itself and, while still in the cast, may learn to feed itself.

In addition, the child will be supported in an upright position withoutthere being any danger or damage to the cast and the device may beadjusted to conform to casts of various sizes and shapes. Further, mydevice may be collapsed quickly and easily so that it may be transportedwith a minimum of difficulty and then reassembled with equal case.

With reference now to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a projected illustration of my device mounted on asupporting framework and with an infant seated thereon.

FIGURE 2 is a projected reverse view of the device illustrated in FIGURE1 and illustarting in dotted lines the tilting of the device.

FIGURE 3 is a projected view illustrating a wheeled supporting frameworkfor my device also shown in the collapsed position.

FIGURE 4 is another projected view of the wheeled supporting frameworkin the extended or operating position and illustrating the backpiecemounted on the framework.

With reference now to the drawings, my device cornprises the fiatbackpiece indicated generally at 1 and which may comprise a rectangularmember 2 of wood or like material with suitable padding 3 on one side. Aseat or crotch block 4 is secured to the backpiece 2 by any suitablemeans to extend outwardly substantially at right angles from thebackpiece 2. and the seat 4 is provided with suitable padding andcovering material 5 similar to the covering 3. In the embodimentillustrated, the seat 4 is shown fixed rigidly to the backpiece 2 and ofthe correct width to fit snugly within the concave crotch portion by thecast 6. I have found that the seat 4 need only be constructed in two orthree widths to fit casts of varying sizes and dimensions. The seat 4must lit snugly within the concave crotch portion so as to prevent thecast from tilting to either side. While the seat 4 could be secureddetachably to the backpiece 4 so that seats of various widths could besubstituted. I have not found this necessary and, in general, the seatmay be secured firmly to the backpiece and if a seat of different widthis required, the seat may be installed when the device is constructed.Obviously, a simple bolt and nut means to secure the seat 4 to the back2 could be provided if many changes in the seat widths were necessary.

As seen in FIGURE 1 in the drawings, the infant 7 is seated on the seat4 with the cast 6 extending on opposite sides of the seat and the infantis secured on the seat by restraining means such as a simple safety belt8 connected to the backpiece 2. A framework consisting of legs 9 andcross members 10 and 16 supports the backpiece 2. The backpiece issecured to the cross member 10 by the 3 clamps 11 or like means so thatthe backpiece 2 may be tilted as indicated by the dotted lines in FIGURE2.

Adjustment of the angle of the backpiece 2 with relation to theframework is governed by the adjusting arm 12 connected at 13 to thebracket 14 on the backpiece 2 and slideable through the slotted member15 on the cross member 16 of the framework. Securement of the arm 12 inthe slotted member 15 is by way of a pin or like device extendingthrough mating openings 17 in the slotted member 15 and the adjustingarm 12.

A wheeled framework for my device is illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 inthe drawings. The wheeled framework consists of the U-shaped memberincluding the handle 19 and arm 18 with cross members 20 and 21 securedto the arms 18 and with front castor wheels 22 mounted in the ends ofthe arms 18. Rear wheels 23 are secured at the ends of wheel arms 24which are secured rotatably in the ends of the cross member 21 andfoldable from a horizontal operating position to a folded positionalongside the arms 18. Bracing arms 25 are secured rotatably at 26 inthe ends of the crosspiece 20 and are connected rotatably at 27 at theiropposite ends to the sleeves 28 operating slidably along the wheel arms24. Securement of the sleeves 28 in the desired position on the arms 24is accomplished through simple pins or like means extending throughmating openings 29 in the arms 24 and sleeves 28.

The backpiece 2 with the seat 4 projecting therefrom is secured on thecross members 20 and 21 by simple spring clamps 30. The principlerequirement of the clamps 30 is that the backpiece 2 should be capableof being clamped securely and at the same time released withoutdifiiculty so that the framework may be collapsed for transportation.The backpiece 2 then may be transported with a child seated thereon ormay be stored or transported separately from the wheeled or otherframework.

In operation, the backpiece 2 would be constructed with suitable paddingand the seat 4 would be either secured rigidly to the backpiece 2 orwould be secured detachably through a simple bolt or like means so thatthe seat could be changed if desired. Thereafter, the backpiece 2 couldbe attached either to the framework as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 ifthe child did not require to be moved about or if it were necessary tomove the child about, the backpiece 2 would be attached to the wheeledframework illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4.

As described previously, the cast 6 generally is altered in shape as thehip socket is formed and, usually, the cast is formed so that the legsof the infant are brought progressively closer together and are pointingin a more forward direction than illustrated. When this is done, and, ifthe seat 4 is of too great a width, it is only necessary to remove theseat from the backpiece, substitute a seat of the correct width and thedevice will provide support as before.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Apparatus for supporting a child having its legs and waist encased ina cast for correction of congenital hip condition which comprises:

(A) A flat backpiece for supporting the child and cast;

(B) A crotch piece, secured to and extending outwardly from the frontsurface of the backpiece, adapted to fit snugly within the concavecrotch portion of the cast for supporting the child and cast when thebackpiece is in a substantially upright position and preventing the castfrom tilting to either side when supported thereby;

(C) A supporting framework;

(D) Said backpiece being tiltably mounted on the support structurewhereby it may be moved between horizontal and upright positions;

(E) Adjustable means connecting the supporting framework and thebackpiece to support the backpiece in a particular upright position; and

(F) Restraining means connected to the backpiece for securing the childthereto.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,509,040 5/1950 Kibbe 297-2552,655,982 10/1953 Christensen 297-338 X 2,777,138 l/1957 Gallagher297--377 X 2,894,267 7/1959 Owens 297--68 X 2,947,998 8/1960 Murphy 5-773,239,271 3/1966 Bergersen 297--l30 3,290,050 12/1966 Ezqherra 297-13O3,337,263 8/1967 Reynolds 297-182 3,339,544 9/1967 Kravitz 128-80 BOBBYR. GAY, Primary Examiner.

G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

